Jet lag/fatigue
BongleBear,
Alas you do not understand jet lag,you say
"the physical burden of jet lag and fatigue" -
jet lag? longest sectors with ryr is around 4.5 hours. ezy may be slightly more having taken on some gb sectors. fatigue? some long days yes, but then still considerably less when compared to the fatigue from long/medium haul ops.
However it is not the length of the sectors or the number of time zones you cross that causes jet lag/fatigue on the easy 5/3/5/4 roster pattern. It is the time shift that occurs with getting up for five days on the trot at 3.30-5.00. This pushes you 3-4 time zones east by the end of your block. You then have three days off to pull your internal body clock back to local before you start your five days of lates pushing your body clock 3-4 time zones west or more if you have a late weekend duty finishing at 1am or latter. You may still be in your own bed every night but you are not in it at the same time every night. Its not classical jet lag but it is fatigue caused by moving your body clock 8 hours every few weeks, in addition to the long 4 sector days.